Cooke is set to start... against his own team!

Centre Mark Cooke, on loan to Rotherham from Bristol, has been picked to play against his own club in tomorrow’s Championship match at Clifton Lane.

Bristol’s coach, Andy Robinson, has given the Titans permission to play Cooke who’s dual registered and has already started for Rotherham in league games against Jersey and Worcester.

Rotherham, fourth in the Championship and pressing for a place in the promotion play-offs, have also selected three more on-loan players in the match squad of 22: number eight Ben Morris, replacement scrum half Andy Davies, returning from Newcastle Falcons, and Bath hooker Tom Dunn who’s set to make his debut.

Centre Joel Gill and forward Sean Robinson weren’t considered because of knee and calf injuries respectively.

However, Tom Holmes has recovered from his knee injury and returns in the second row where he joins Barney Maddison. Titans coach Lee Blackett said: “We are excited by the challenge Bristol will offer and tomorrow’s game is good test to see how far we’ve improved since we last played them.

“Doncaster didn’t do us any favours by beating Bristol in the B and I Cup, so they’ll be hurting, but that’s a different competition with a different team.

“So, I’m not reading too much into that result and there’ll be changes to Bristol’s side.”